Gilbert Arenas Faces Felony Gun Charges

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Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, who reportedly brought guns to his team’s locker room, has been charged with felony firearm possession stemming from last month’s locker room confrontation with teammate Javaris Crittenton. If convicted, Arenas faces up to five years in prison.

As last reported by VIBE, NBA commissioner David Stern indefinitely suspended the Washington Wizards star without pay on Jan. 6. Stern issued a statement on the matter saying, “The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us. Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game.”

Arenas, a three-time all-star, had admitted to bringing unloaded guns to the Wizard’s locker room as a “misguided effort to play a joke” on his teammate following a gambling dispute. Crittenton, who reacted by pulling out a loaded gun on Arenas, is also being investigated.

“Contrary to some press accounts, I never threatened or assaulted anyone with the guns and never pointed them at anyone,” Arenas said in a statement. “Joke or not, I now recognize that what I did was a mistake and was wrong,” Arenas went on to say. “I should not have brought the guns to D.C. in the first place, and I now realize that there’s no such thing as joking around when it comes to guns––even if unloaded.” ––Keith Murphy